The Maroondah Aqueduct System - a Pictorial Heritage 1891 to 2013

1865 - Preston Reservoir

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1803 - Beginnings
1857 - Yan Yean Reservoir
1865 - Preston Reservoir
1891 - The Graceburn Weir
1891 - The Aqueduct
1891 - Maroondah Aqueduct - Kangaroo Ground District
1891 - Watts Weir
1891 - Maroondah Aqueduct - Echo Tunnel
1891 - Maroondah Aqueduct - Eltham to Research District
1893 - Donnelley's Weir
1927 - Maroondah Reservoir
1927 - Maroondah Reservoir Park
Maroondah Reservoir - Features
Epilogue
References
Websites of the Author

1908preston1.jpg
1908 - construction of No. 2 Preston Reservoir

PRESTON RESERVOIR

The original Maroondah Aqueduct in 1891 joined the Yan Yean Pipe, near the Preston Reservoir.

1863
New reservoir proposed for Preston

1865
The Reservoir (No. 1) was built as a purification storage facility, with water then piped into Melbourne, flow rate was 16 million gallons per day, from Yan Yean
 
1878
Accident at Morang caused serious disruption to water flow
 
1908
Monash won a contract with the Melbourne & Metropolitan Board of Works to build a large reservoir (No. 2) at Preston, the second in the locality. Still in use, it resembles a vast swimming pool only partly sunk into the ground.

The walls project part-way above the original ground surface. As the walls of this type of reservoir were constructed, earth excavated from the basin was piled up behind them to form embankments. These serve as a second line of containment, and also help the walls resist the outward pressure of the water. However, when the water level is low the inward pressure of the earth is the dominating effect. The walls were therefore designed to resist either outward or inward forces tending to cause tilting or (less importantly) sliding.
 
1909
The new reservoir was completed and taken into use, carried 25 million gallons per day
 
1909
Pipes were replaced near the CBD
 

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1908 - construction of No. 2 Preston Reservoir

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1908 - construction of No. 2 Preston Reservoir

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1865 - construction of No. 1 reservoir

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Early photo of the No. 2 Reservoir, c1910

prestonold.jpg
Early photo of No. 2 reservoir, c1910

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preston2011g.jpg
2011 - inspection tour to Preston - old pipes

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2011 - at the Preston Reservoir

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2011 - at the Preseton Reservoir

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2011 - at the Preston Reservoir

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2011 - at the Preston Reservoir (dry!)

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2011 - at the Preston Reservoir - old bluestone pumphouse

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1920s - water reticulation in Melbourne

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2011 - old pipes at Preston

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1928 - replacing pipes from Preston reservoir